Tropical Storm Fay

It's early Saturday morning and here comes our first tropical storm, now over Haiti and headed our way. I am excited for a couple of reasons. First, it's my first tropical storm. Second, I will not have to pick up dog poo. It rains so hard here it dissolves the poo. Jerry says tropical storm Fay shares the same name as Major Fay, the first Marine Barracks Commander at Guantanamo Bay. Here are a couple of photographs taken a few minutes ago. Beautiful blue skies. I will add photos as the storm hits.

We were at the Exchange all morning selling Marine tee-shirts and raffle tickets to raise money for the Marine Ball. We are starting to get a few bands of the storm. A few minutes later it was sunny outside and the wind stopped blowing. You can see how strong the wind was blowing by looking at the palm tree in the background.

It is 3:30 and we are stuck at the house waiting for the storm. It looks like it is swinging south. This is not a good thing due to the fact it will hit more warm water and strengthen before swinging north and hitting us.  Although, it may miss us all together and this will be a really boring post.

Well, I guess it's going to be a really boring post. It's Sunday morning and the storm blew south of us and all we got was a little wind and rain. It didn't even rain hard enough to dissolve the poop. I am disappointed. 

I think I need a Target fix

I was in for quite an adventure today. I took a trip to the other side of the bay to explore new beaches. I think I have been experiencing Island Fever a bit because the idea of venturing to a new place had me ecstatic. There were seven of us that loaded ice chests, lawn chairs, and beach toys into a suburban. We headed off to the ferry that would carry us to the other side. I was thrilled to see a beautiful sandy beach. The kids enjoyed jumping off the pier and watching Iguanas.  Below are a few pictures of our adventure. 

The ferry is always packed with cars. We hope it's not full when we come back. Silly military wives looking for a good time have the last priority when it comes to the ferry. 

My friend's kids, the best behaved kids on the planet, are amazed by Iguanas. They are watching a male and female. Maybe the Iguanas are watching them. 

This male Iguana is missing a good section of his tail. He was probably hit by a car. Iguanas are not the smartest reptiles on the planet. As soon as we fired up the engine to leave he ran under the suburban and we had to get out and chase him off. 

We decided to check out another beautiful spot called Hidden Beach. You are not allowed to swim at this beach due to a vicious undertow but are allowed to scuba dive here. It's supposed to be amazing and I can't wait to dive this beach. I have to get my advanced diver certification which I begin on the 15th. 

This is a female Iguana. She was watching us as we climbed down the stairs toward the beach.

This is a stunning beach with beautiful aqua water. 

We were the last car on the ferry. We really didn't think we would fit but they squeezed us on. It was a nice day at the beach. Tomorrow I should probably stay home, do some laundry, and look for a job.

If you are bored in GTMO it's your own fault

We had an action packed weekend.

Saturday

7:00 AM - Breakfast at the Galley

8:00 AM - Hunt for Sea Glass

9:00 AM - Back at home to shower

10:00 AM - Tour of a Ship ( more on this later)

12:00 PM - Trip to the Scuba shop to pick up gear

12:30 PM - Scuba dive

3:00 PM - Back in the shower

4:00 PM - Jerry heads to work to give a tour of the Northeast gate

4:30 PM - I head off to a 30th birthday party

6:30 PM - Jerry arrives at birthday party

9:00 PM - Off to Jamaican independence day celebration

11:00 PM - In bed at last

Sunday was not as busy but we did have a trip to the commissary and did some yard work. Actually we have a Filipino worker that did most of it. It's work we could do ourselves but this is money they send home to their families. They only make about two dollars an hour here, some less. They work six days a week, ten hour days. I'm sure you are wondering how this can be. Well, we hire contractors and the contractors hire them and pay them what they want. Compared to their economy the money they make here can completely support many family members back home. So on Sundays, their only day off, they clean houses and mow lawns.

We were invited on a personal tour of the USS Farragut. Named for Admiral Farragut who was the first person in the history of the United States Navy to be awarded the rank of Admiral. Too bad he died in 1870 and never got to see the ship named after him. Anyhoo, it was a very nice tour and we were asked to have lunch in the Ward Room where we met the ship's Captain and other important dudes. I could have never been in the Navy. The tight quarters and low ceilings made me claustrophobic.

I realize this is a terrible picture but it's the only one I have of Jamaican Independence day. Jamaicans can really dance and really party. We were in bed by 11:00 but I hear this party went on all night.

Hola, Fidel y Raul, Part II

This is the Northeast Gate. The only way into Communist Cuba. Before Fidel thousands of Cuban workers passed through the gates each day. After Fidel the original workers could still work on base but no new workers were permitted into GTMO.  These workers are very elderly now and there are only a few. This article is so interesting. It goes into the history of the Northeast Gate. It is really amazing how the Cubans and Marines would harass each other.

http://www.defenselink.mil/news/NewsArticle.aspx?ID=2265

This is where the Cuban workers would enter GTMO

This is the building where the Marines would sleep. The fencing to the left of the photo was put up when the Cubans would throw rocks on the tin roof and keep the Marines awake. After the fence was put up the Cubans would hang coat hangers with wind chimes to keep the Marines awake. The Marines put up barbed wire. Then the Cubans used a big spotlight to shine in the windows of the building. The Marines put up a big tent and built the giant Marine symbol, where you now see the eagle, globe, and anchor. After 30 days of work the Cubans turned on the spotlight and Marines removed the tent. When the Cubans realized they were lighting up the Marine symbol they turned off the spotlight. The Marines built there own lighting to keep the eagle, globe, and anchor lit up. 

After Fidel Castro Accused GTMO of stealing water the CO of the base ordered the water line cut to prove the pipe was dry. He did this in front of the media. 

This was an embarassment to Fidel.

Hola Fidel y Rual

Jerry took me on a fantastic tour of the fence line restricted to GTMO residents, unless they have special permission and a Marine escort. This is a hill in Communist Cuba with a security tower on top. You may need to get your reading glasses, Mom, or you can make the picture bigger by clicking on it. I waved and said hello. They didn't wave back.
GTMO shares a bay with Guantanamo City. Many Cubans use this passage to escape Communist Cuba. This sign is basically telling these Cubans what to do. It also advises them we are not going to shoot them and will care for them.This is the barrier across the bay, put up by the Cubans. 

I will make this a two part post. The next post will be of the Northeast Gate.